I didn’t think it’d be more than 2 games, personally. I find it interesting though because it really didn’t look like a hit from behind and it also didn’t really look like Ovechkin unloaded on him either. I think it was just a string of unfortunate circumstances that led to Campbell getting hurt. Definitely a tough spot for the Blackhawks heading into the playoffs. I mean, guys like Duncan Keith can still pack an offensive punch, but it’s going to make things interesting from hereon in…

Now if Campbell got up without injury, or maybe, say, bruised ribs or something, would this still be a suspension?

So you want hockey to become a no contact sport?

re: " hopefully Ovechkin learns his lesson and is a little more mindful when he skates into that no-man’s land about five feet from the boards."

Watch the replay it’s a shove, not a hit and Ovie shves Campbel as they cross the goal line. In a regulation NHL rink that line is suppossed to be 11 feet from the boards. It wasn’t reckless, sorry, it was an accident. As a Caps and Ovie fan today and a fan of the sport and the NHL for 40 years, I only hope this pacification movement around the NHL just comes to an end quikly. It will change the fundemental fiber of the game for sure and the way it will drive it won’t be a good direction in my opinion.

 First we Americans ruined our own sport – American Football – by trying to make everything politicaly correct. That ended in an epic fail – the NFL game is entirely horrible to watch live in the stadium, yet off the field the players, literally at times “rape and pillage” so they are horrible role models.

Now we want one of the hardest working and most talented players in the game to “let up” and play with sensible caution. That’s not the role model we want our kids to have is it seriously? “Kids, play hard but not too hard. Remeber it’s not whether you win or loose it’s just so eveyone has a fun time and doesn’t get hurt. Also remember, no matter who wins as long as no one gets hurt the coaches will take everyone out for ice cream.”

I mean we wouldn’t want sports to teach our kids how to compete to win fairly and as hard as possible. We’d rather sit here in opur politically correct self – satisified stupor. Meanwhile the kids from the developing world wil become the driven adults of the future and we can squander our position as world leaders. We can also watch an NHL game where we can rest comfortably because the risk of injury will be no greater than that of ice dancing or curling.

For once. Everyone had to know it wasn’t going to be more than two games because of the involved party. Now if only there was some consistency…

Is Seidenberg’s (spelling?) hit tonight on Parise also worth 5 and a game + 2 suspended? His hit on Parise was just as illegal (in terms of checking from behind), closer to the boards, and a harder hit than Ovechkin’s. Is Campbell going to start doing that for all checks on the back of shoulders?

What about yesterday’s Blues game where Schultz got called for “hooking” even though he cross checked a guy into the boards from the side of the goal – after the whistle? Is that 5 and a game + 2 suspended?

Obviously, neither of those were even called (or called correctly on the second one) as it goes…but what’s the shake-out of this suspension call?

Good hit – Bad hit.
NHL get real. Bodychecks, yes! Ultimate fighting…???
Let’s not over- analyze this.
If you have ever played hockey you have a pretty good take on what an elbow to the head of a guy, who is not looking and going in about the opposite direction to you, will accomplish. If you don’t, think of yourself (or an NHL higher up perhaps) getting hit by a 200 pound baseball bat in the head.
You should also have a pretty good idea of what a push, trip or hip will do to a guy heading full tilt towards the boards. If not , and you want the rush, jump off your roof head first (Or think of whoever gave Ovie a 2 game suspension jumping off).

Ovie 2 vs Lapierre (who?) 4. Advantage Alex. Same crime, but Ovie is a little faster so he KOs his man, not the $ame time. Leave it to the NHL to put a $ value on justice.
Hockey is a fast game. Pro hockey players have reflexes that allow them to make decisions at speeds we can’t possibly imagine. Do you really believe that there are ‘’unintended or accidental hits’’ of this type?
These kinds of hits: HEAD or Boarding from behind are a disgrace to hockey. But, I guess since ultimate fighting has a big share of the US market, the NHL brains are thinking that this kind of aberation is a step in the right direction.
Bring back the game!!!